Summary: A new UC Davis study shows that the brain’s attention system prepares in two rapid stages: it first establishes a broad focus on a general feature, then quickly narrows to the specific attribute. Using EEG combined with machine-learning decoding, researchers measured how people prepared to attend to either the color or the motion direction … Read more

Summary: A new study shows routine hospital blood tests can help predict spinal cord injury severity and survival chances. Researchers applied machine learning to thousands of patient records and found that patterns in common blood markers — including electrolytes, immune cells and other routine measures — forecasted outcomes as early as one to three days … Read more

Summary: A phase 1/2a clinical trial indicates that stem cell therapy may partially restore vision in people with advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that currently has no cure. Researchers transplanted retinal pigment epithelial stem cell–derived RPE cells, sourced from adult postmortem eye-bank tissue, into patients’ eyes and observed both a favorable safety … Read more

Summary: New research reveals that the direction of slow brain oscillations—prominent during deep sleep and anesthesia—is determined primarily by neuronal excitability rather than by fixed anatomical pathways. Using a realistic computational model together with experiments in mice, scientists found that the most excitable cortical region effectively leads and organizes the propagation of these slow waves. … Read more

Summary: New research indicates that cleaner air may help protect and even improve children’s eyesight, potentially slowing the rise of myopia—particularly in younger pupils. Using explainable machine learning and a large, multifactorial cohort, researchers found that children living in areas with lower levels of air pollution demonstrated better uncorrected visual acuity even after accounting for … Read more

Summary: Researchers have discovered a distinct subset of hypothalamic neurons, named Crabp1 neurons, that powerfully regulate energy expenditure. When these cells are silenced, animals show reduced activity, lower core temperature, impaired fat burning, and progressive weight gain. Conversely, stimulating Crabp1 neurons increases locomotion and thermogenesis and protects against diet-induced obesity. These neurons respond to environmental … Read more

Summary: A recent human study finds that an intravenous (IV) infusion of lactate — the metabolite produced during intense exercise — raises circulating levels of pro-BDNF, a precursor of brain-derived neurotrophic factor associated with neural growth and resilience. The infusion recreated lactate concentrations typical of moderate to high-intensity exercise and triggered a sustained increase in … Read more

Summary: New research finds that most everyday actions are driven by habit rather than conscious decision-making. In familiar contexts people often act automatically, reflecting learned cue–response associations. At the same time, many habits support personal goals, indicating that routines can be harnessed to promote healthier behaviour. The study shows that habits not only dominate daily … Read more

Summary: A new mouse study demonstrates that disrupting the endocannabinoid system during prenatal brain development produces persistent changes in cortical structure, gene expression, and behavior. Reducing activity of a key endocannabinoid receptor in the developing prefrontal cortex impaired normal neuronal migration, altered expression of genes linked to brain formation and signaling, and produced social and … Read more

Summary: Researchers have discovered a direct connection between oral bacteria and Parkinson’s disease. The bacterium Streptococcus mutans—commonly associated with dental cavities—can colonize the gut and produce metabolites that travel through the body to the brain. Those metabolites, especially imidazole propionate (ImP) generated via the enzyme urocanate reductase (UrdA), trigger neuronal loss, neuroinflammation, and motor deficits … Read more